LABOUR MINISTER: GOVT HAS MADE A NUMBER OF GOOD MOVES

ZAGREB, June 30 (Hina) - Labour and Social Welfare Minister Davorko Vidovic said on Friday that 12,000 workers from 208 companies, in which bankruptcy proceedings will be initiated in line with a government decision, will receive monthly benefits amounting to 900 kuna from the Employment Bureau until they find a new job. In an interview in 'Dnevnik plus' news programme, Vidovic said this meant that instead of receiving no income at all, workers would be given at least some benefits. Changes to the Law on Bankruptcy would ensure that workers are the first to be paid from the bankruptcy estate. A total of ten million kuna will be secured from state-owned companies and those in which the state is a co-owner for benefits for 12,000 new unemployed persons. Total funds for the unemployed at the Employment Bureau will thus increase to 65 million kuna for this year. Although the social situation in the country is difficult, Vidovic does not expect a 'hot autumn'. He claims the government has made a number of good moves, whose results will be seen soon. "It is the problem of employment on which this government will either fail or pass the test," Vidovic said. According to Vidovic, measures which have helped improve the social situation are the extension of the right to children's allowance as of October 1, free school books for children from the most destitute families and the children of Croatian soldiers, and increased pensions. Opposing the decision on increasing pensions of parliamentary representatives, Vidovic said that decision had been made without consent from the government. (hina) rml